Apparatuses and methods for optical fiber loop relaxation are provided for telecommunications management apparatuses, such as fiber optic telecommunications trays. The apparatus includes a radius limiter block for routing fibers therearound, and a fiber loop management recess provided on a peripheral surface of the radius limiter block. The fiber loop management recess is configured to receive a fiber loop management device between the radius limiter block and the fibers routed around the radius limiter block.
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1. A fiber optic telecommunications tray, comprising:
a main body having a base plate and a cable containment wall that extends upwardly from a top surface of the base plate, the cable containment wall defining at least a portion of a periphery of the main body of the fiber optic telecommunications tray that surrounds the base plate;
a fiber storage device including at least one radius limiter block that defines a fiber loop passage for routing and storing fibers inside the cable containment wall, the at least one radius limiter block projecting from the top surface of the base plate, the at least one radius limiter block having a peripheral surface that extends between a respective top of the at least one radius limiter block and the top surface of the base plate;
a fiber loop management recess provided on the peripheral surface of the at least one radius limiter block, the fiber loop management recess being configured to at least partially receive a fiber loop management device; and
a guide groove provided on the base plate and configured to guide the fiber loop management device radially relative to the at least one radius limiter block.
2. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
3. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
4. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
5. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
6. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
7. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
8. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
9. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
10. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
a first radius limiter block and a second radius limiter block,
wherein the fiber loop passage includes a figure-8 shaped fiber loop passage around the first radius limiter block and the second radius limiter block.
11. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
12. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
13. The fiber optic telecommunications tray of
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This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/962,767, filed on Jul. 16, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,204,475, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2019/050840, filed on Jan. 14, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/619,481, filed on Jan. 19, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications.
Optical fiber distribution systems may include equipment such as fiber management trays that are mounted in telecommunications closures or at other locations. Fiber management trays are commonly used to manage, store and protect optical fibers and optical splices. Fiber management trays include fiber routing paths for allowing excess length of optical fibers to be stored in looped configurations without violating minimum bend radius requirements for the optical fibers. When the excess length of optical fibers is wound in looped configurations, it is desirable to avoid tightening the optical fibers in the loops.
In general terms, the present disclosure is directed to optical fiber loop relaxation. In one possible configuration and by non-limiting example, systems and methods are provided to relax optical fiber loops in a telecommunications management apparatus, such as a fiber optic telecommunications tray. Various aspects are described in this disclosure, which include, but are not limited to, the following aspects.
One aspect is a telecommunications management apparatus including a base plate, a radius limiter block, a fiber loop passage, and a fiber loop management recess. The radius limiter block is configured to route fibers therearound and store fibers with minimum bend radius of the fibers ensured. The radius limiter block projects from the base plate and having a peripheral surface that extends from the base plate and provides a surface around which the fibers are routed. The fiber loop passage is provided around the radius limiter block and configured to receive the fibers routed around the radius limiter block. The fiber loop management recess is provided on the peripheral surface and configured to at least partially receive a fiber loop management device between the radius limiter block and the fibers routed around the radius limiter block.
In certain examples, the apparatus may further include a guide groove provided on the base plate and configured to guide the fiber loop management device radially from the radius limiter block. In certain examples, the guide groove may be arranged to extend radially from the fiber loop management recess of the radius limiter block. In certain examples, the guide groove may be arranged in the fiber loop passage.
In certain examples, the fiber loop management recess extends from a top of the radius limiter block to the base plate. In certain examples, the fiber loop management recess may have a consistent width along a length thereof. In certain examples, the fiber loop management recess may have a width tapered along a length thereof. The width of the fiber loop management recess may become narrower from the top of the radius limiter block toward the base plate.
In certain examples, the apparatus may further include a second radius limiter block arranged adjacent to the radius limiter block. The fiber loop passage may include a figure-8 shaped fiber loop passage around the radius limiter block and the second radius limiter block.
In certain examples, the apparatus may further include a second fiber loop management recess provided on a second peripheral surface of the second radius limiter block and configured to at least partially receive the fiber loop management device between the second radius limiter block and the fibers routed at least partially around the second radius limiter block.
In certain examples, the fiber loop management recess of the radius limiter block is arranged to be opposite to the second fiber loop management recess of the second radius limiter block.
In certain examples, the apparatus may further include a second guide groove provided on the base plate and configured to guide the fiber loop management device radially from the second radius limiter block. In certain examples, the second guide groove is arranged to extend radially from the second fiber loop management recess of the second radius limiter block and extend opposite to the guide groove associated with the radius limiter block.
Another aspect is a method for managing fibers in a telecommunications management apparatus. The method may include: routing a fiber around a radius limiter block on the apparatus; engaging a fiber loop management device with a fiber loop management recess provided on a peripheral surface of the radius limiter block, thereby arranging the fiber loop management device between the radius limiter block and the fiber routed around the radius limiter block; and moving the fiber loop management device radially away from the radius limiter block to space the fiber apart from the peripheral surface of the radius limiter block.
In certain examples, the step of moving the fiber loop management device may include: engaging a distal tip of the fiber loop management device with a guide groove provided on a bottom of the base plate of the apparatus, the guide groove extending radially from the radius limiter block; and moving the fiber loop management device along the guide groove radially away from the radius limiter block.
Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.
Referring to
The fiber optic telecommunications tray 102 is configured to receive, store, and manage optical fibers or fiber optical cables therein. It is understood that the tray 102 can be used for optical fibers or fiber optic cables in similar manners. Therefore, the terms, “fiber(s)” and “cable(s)”, are interchangeably used to describe various features of the tray in this document. The tray 102 can be of various types, such as a splice tray, splitter tray, a combination thereof, and a housing device having other functions. The tray 102 includes a main body 112 that has a base plate 114 and a cable containment wall 116. In the illustrated example, the cable containment wall 116 extends upwardly from a front side (or a top surface) 118 of the base plate 114 and defines at least a portion of a periphery of the main body 112 of the tray 102 that surrounds the base plate 114.
The base plate 114 of the main body 112 is shown as including a generally flat body of a suitably rigid or resilient plastic or polymeric material, although alternatives are possible. According to some examples, the tray 102 may be formed of a polymeric material, such as, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, ABS, PMMA, some other material or any combination thereof. In other examples, the tray 102 may be formed of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material.
In some examples, the tray 102 has a proximate side 122 and a distal side 124 opposite to the proximate side 122. As described herein, the tray 102 can be mounted to a structure 125 (
The tray 102 includes a tray mounting interface 170 for mounting the tray to the structure 125. In the illustrated example, the tray mounting interface 170 is provided at the proximate side 122. The tray mounting interface 170 can include hinge members to pivotally connect the tray 102 to the structure 125. The tray mounting interface 170 allows the tray 102 to rotate or pivot upwardly or downwardly at an angle with respect to a plane of the structure. In other examples, the tray mounting interface 170 can include other mechanical coupling structures, such as pivot mounts, interference fitting, clamps, latches, straps, capture arms, or any other suitable mechanism. An example system suitable for use with trays 102 and showing hinged trays in a stacked arrangement can be found in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0321825, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Further, the tray 102 has a first cable entrance side 126 and a second cable entrance side 128. The first and second cable entrance sides 126 and 128 are provided with various features, as described herein, which are configured to receive and guide cables or fibers entering or exiting the tray 102. The first cable entrance side 126 can be arranged to be opposite to the second cable entrance side 128. The first and second cable entrance sides 126 and 128 can be arranged in various configurations in other embodiments. In the illustrated example, the first and second cable entrance sides 126 and 128 are arranged at the proximate side 122 of the tray 102. In other examples, the first and second cable entrance sides 126 and 128 are arranged closer to the proximate side 122 than to the distal side 124 of the tray 102. In yet other examples, the first and second cable entrance sides 126 and 128 can be arranged in different configurations with respect to the proximate side 122 and the distal side 124 of the tray 102.
As described herein, the cable containment wall 116 can function as fiber guides and have curvatures suitable with minimum bend radius requirements of fibers managed on the tray 102.
The cable containment wall 116 defines a cable management space 120 on the base plate 114. As described herein, the cable management space 120 are configured to route fibers, connect (e.g., splice) fibers, store slack or loops of fibers, and organize fibers as necessary. Various structures can be provided in the cable management space 120 including splices and/or storage of cables, which will be described below. Various additional structures can be provided for managing and organizing the fiber optic cables, including a divider wall and cable/fiber retention tabs.
In some examples, the tray 102 can include a fiber storage device 130, a fiber splice device 132, and a fiber termination device 134 in the cable management space 120.
The fiber storage device 130 is provided to route fibers, store slack or loops of fibers, and organize fibers. The fiber storage device 130 is arranged in, or defines, a fiber storage area of the tray. In some examples, the fiber storage device 130 includes one or more radius limiter blocks 200, such as a first radius limiter block 202 and a second radius limiter block 204. The radius limiter blocks 200 are configured to route fibers 136 therearound and store the fibers 136 to ensure a minimum bend radius of the fibers 136 stored on the tray 102. The radius limiter blocks 200 are positioned on the top surface 118 of the base plate 114 in the cable management space 120 and configured to store the fibers 136.
The radius limiter blocks 200 project upwardly from the top surface 118 of the base plate 114 and cooperate to define a fiber loop passage 210 around the radius limiter blocks 200 at the top surface 118 of the base plate 114. The radius limiter blocks 200 are constructed to limit the bend radius of fibers when the fibers are routed or wrapped about the radius limiter blocks 200 for storage and/or organizational purposes.
The radius limiter blocks 200 can also assist and retain fibers in looped configurations. Each of the radius limiter blocks 200 has a peripheral surface 206 that extends between a top 208 of the radius limiter block 200 and the bottom (i.e., the top surface 118) of the base plate 114.
The fiber loop passage 210 is provided around the radius limiter blocks 200 and configured to receive fibers 136 around the radius limiter blocks 200. In the illustrated example, the fiber loop passage 210 includes spaces between the cable containment wall 116 and the radius limiter blocks 200. Further, the fiber loop passage 210 include spaces between the radius limiter blocks 200, which allow for additional cable routing pathways.
In the illustrated example, the first radius limiter block 202 and the second radius limiter block 204 are arranged adjacent to each other (e.g., side-by-side), such that the fiber loop passage 210 includes a figure-8 shaped fiber loop passage around the first radius limiter block 202 and the second radius limiter block 204.
To retain the optical fibers 136 within the fiber loop passage 210, a plurality of fiber retention tabs 220 (also referred to as fingers) are arranged over the fiber loop passage 210. The fiber retention tabs 220 can extend from the fiber containment wall 116 and the radius limiter blocks 200 and elevated from the base plate 114. The fiber retention tabs 220 can be arranged to be substantially parallel with the base plate 114. In some examples, the fiber retention tabs 220 are paired to extend towards each other and leave a gap or space therebetween so that cables can be inserted or removed from the fiber loop passage 210.
Referring still to
The fiber termination device 134 is provided to terminate fibers with connectors. The fiber termination device 134 is arranged in, or defines, a fiber termination area of the tray. For example, as illustrated in
The fiber termination device 134 provides features for securing the fiber optic adapter 104 and allowing easy access to the fiber optic adapter 104 when the connectors 106 are inserted into, or removed from, the adapter 104. The fiber optic adapter 104 is configured to connect (e.g. couple or splice) a pair of fiber optic connectors 106 with each other. The fiber optic connectors 106 are used to terminate and provide connectorized fibers. The fiber optic connectors 106 used in the tray can be of various types, such LC, SC, MPO, MTP, MT-RJ, or any other suitable connectors. Accordingly, the fiber optic adapters 104 used in the tray can be configured to receive various types of such connectors. For example, the adapters 104 can be simplex optical adapters, duplex optical adapters, quadruplex adapters, and any other types of optical adapters.
In the illustrated example, two fiber optic adapters 104 are movably retained in the tray 102. The fiber optic adapters 104 can be arranged to be parallel with each other. As illustrated, the tray 102 is configured such that the fiber optic adapters 104 and the fiber optic connectors 106 do not extend beyond the height of the cable containment wall 116.
Referring to
The fiber loop management recess 230 includes a groove or cutout that is recessed (or retracted) from the peripheral surface 206 of the radius limiter block 200. The fiber loop management recess 230 is used to at least partially receive a fiber loop management device 300 and arrange the device 300 between the radius limiter block 200 (i.e., the peripheral surface 206 of the radius limiter block 200) and the fibers 136 routed around the radius limiter block 200, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In some examples, the fiber loop management device 300 can be used to reach behind the tightly-wrapped fibers and pull them away from the radius limiter blocks 200. In some examples, the fiber loop management device 300 can be configured as a stick or an elongated tool, and a technician can engage a tip 302 of the stick behind the fibers 136 (e.g., between the peripheral surface 206 of the radius limiter block 200 and the fibers 136) and move the stick away from the radius limiter block 200 to relax the fibers 136 from the radius limiter block 200. However, it can still be difficult to use the fiber loop management device 300 when the fibers 136 abut with the peripheral surface 206 of the radius limiter block 200 and does not provide a space enough to receive the fiber loop management device 300 between the fibers 136 and the peripheral surface 206 of the radius limiter block 200.
To address this, the fiber loop management recess 230 provides a room that makes it easy to receive the fiber loop management device 300 behind the fibers 136 even when the fibers 136 are tightly wound around the radius limiter block 200, as illustrated in
In some examples, as described herein, the fiber loop management device 300 can be configured as a stick or an elongated tool. Further, the tip 302 of the fiber loop management device 300 can be tapered to have a small or sharp point at the tip 302. Such a sharp tip of the fiber loop management device 300 can help grab particular fibers in looped configurations.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring to
Each of the guide grooves 250 is configured to engage with a tip of the fiber loop management device 300 when the fiber loop management device 300 is received via the fiber loop management device 300. The guide grooves 250 allows the fiber loop management device 300 to slide thereon, thereby guiding the fiber loop management device 300 to move radially away from the radius limiter block 200 along the guide groove 250.
In the illustrated examples, the first radius limiter block 202 and the second radius limiter block 204 are arranged adjacent to each other (side-by-side). In some examples, the fiber loop management recess 230 (e.g., a first loop management recess) provided in the first radius limiter block 202 is arranged to be opposite to the fiber loop management recess 230 (e.g., a second loop management recess) provided in the second radius limiter block 204. As best illustrated in
Similarly, the guide groove 250 (e.g., a first guide groove) associated with the fiber loop management recess 230 of the first radius limiter block 202 is arranged to be opposite to the guide groove 250 (e.g., a second guide groove) associated with the fiber loop management recess 230 of the second radius limiter block 204. As best illustrated in
The various examples and teachings described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the examples and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Aerts, Maarten, Schurmans, Eric, Van De Velde, Conny, Knaepen, Chris
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